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Roomies & Zoomies:
How We Bridged the Gap
for an Inclusive Classroom
What were we trying to fix?
We have all felt the divide between in-person and remote students when teaching in a Hybrid, HyFlex, or <insert your favorite term here> format. The disconnect between the two makes it feel like two separate groups instead of one cohesive class.
We broke this into two problems – first, the faculty-student connection with remote students while lecturing, and second, facilitating group work while maintaining an equitable class experience for both in-person and remote students.
Faculty-Student Connection While Lecturing
To address this problem, each wall in the room has two large displays. One display shows any shared content and/or the active speaker, while the second shows the tile view of all remote participants.
“With this technology I can see them, I can interact. I can know what everyone’s thinking, I can watch their faces, I can see their eyes glaze over when I’m not clear, I can see them get excited. This technology really helps me interact with the students online like they’re right in class.”
Jeff Greene, McMichael Professor of Education
Facilitating Group Work Equitably
Addressing this problem is where these rooms really shine. Of the eight displays in each room, three are Zoom Room equipped and capable of conducting hybrid breakout discussions in the same physical space thanks to the advanced audio processing.
“I have a value to make sure that class is still one section. Where it doesn’t matter if you’re here face to face or if you’re on Zoom. And so the technology allows me to put those people together in that community, no matter how they choose to access the course.”
Martinette Horner, Program Director, School Administration
Video Case Study
Master of School Administration
Program Website: School Administration
- Historically one of the best in the state
- Historically in-person, bound by campus
- Moved to HyFlex format
- Empowered by these rooms
- Approximately 53% increase in enrollment
- 75% of first cohort not in driving distance
Technical Highlights
- Advanced Biamp audio processing, including:
- Active noise cancellation enabling hybrid breakout group discussions
- In-room voice lift amplification
- Full NAV (AV over IP) architecture
- 8 independent displays facilitate active learning
- 3 independent Zoom Rooms
- 20 independent sources
- Lecture Capture capability with intuitive setup wizard
- 3 selectable cameras (2 pan/tilt/zoom, 1 wide angle)
- User-friendly control with 5 room modes
Room Guides
School Agile Classrooms | Overview
An overview of the rooms, including links to the various guides below.
School Agile Classrooms | Comprehensive Guide
This guide is designed to be a comprehensive overview of all features of the Agile Classrooms.
School Agile Classrooms | Task-Based Guide
This guide is designed to help you walk through specific tasks you’d like to accomplish in the Agile Classrooms.
School Agile Classrooms | HyFlex Breakout Guide
This guide is designed to help you walk through the logistics of hosting a HyFlex meeting with breakout groups in the School Agile Classrooms via Zoom.
Special Thanks To
Martinette Horner
Program Director, School Administration
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Education
Martinette provided the faculty and program perspectives for this presentation, and is happy to field questions.
Brian Nussbaum
Director of Information Technology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Education
Brian now oversees these rooms, provided the current upkeep and support perspective, and is happy to field questions.
Vendor Contacts
Biamp Systems
Biamp provided the audio system design, programming, and commissioning that enables us to host multiple Zoom sessions in a single space.
For higher education questions, please contact:
Richard Mitchell
Higher Education Solutions Manager – East
richard.mitchell@biamp.com
Cell: 919.980.2224
KONTEK Systems
Kontek was our AV integration partner in this project. They provided technical systems design; procured, installed, and programmed the equipment; and were partners throughout the process.
info@kontek.com
Office: 919.680.4321